St. Louis Cardinals potential trade options narrow as Tulowitzki heads back to DL

If there was any movement for a potential trade of Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the St. Louis Cardinals -- or any other team -- that's probably off now thanks to the fact that the oft-injured infielder has been placed on the disabled list... again.

Tulowitzki, who is batting .340 with 21 homers, has played an average of 121 games a season since his first full year in the big leagues, 2007. He reportedly has an injury to his hip. He won't be eligible to be activated from the DL until after the non-waiver trade deadline has passed.

Colorado's ownership group, which last year said there was no way it would trade Tulowitzki, this season has said it wouldn't trade him ... unless he asked to be dealt. Tulo has said he would like to play for a winner. But, while he has supposedly said he wouldn't object to a trade, he has stopped short of demanding or asking for one.

Reports indicate that last off-season St. Louis offered a package that included Matt Adams and Shelby Miller for Tulowitzki. The Rockies rejected the proposal.

The shortstop's contract, which pays him $16 million this season, escalates to $20 million from 2015 through 2019 and pays him $14 million in 2020. It has a player option for 2021 that would pay him $15 million. If the option is not exercised, Tulowitzki would get a $4 millon buyout. His contract also contains a clause, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts, that would pay him $2 million if he is traded.

If Tulowitzki is retained by the Rockies, he'd account for about one-third of the Rockies current payroll budget of $60 million.